What’s an active, energetic, somewhat distractible boy of 10 supposed to do when the temperatures plummet to the point where it’s not safe to spend hours on end out of doors?
Currently, the answer is puzzles.
Lots and lots of puzzles.
I had a too-brief visit with my Dad and step-mom last weekend. As usual, they sent a load of goodies back, including a stack of puzzles. My step-mom loves puzzles, and knows John Mark does, too. When I saw the piece counts, I admit I was dubious. While John Mark will happily work his way through puzzles of 200 pieces, these were of the 500 and 1,000 piece variety. I feared frustration, angst, and eventual discouragement.
Instead, John Mark plowed his way through the first puzzle in two days, moving it to a big board for easy transport and working completely on his own. If he wasn’t outside or lost in a book, he was working the puzzle, patiently turning pieces, sorting colors, and making matches.
The minute he finished, he disassembled it and chose another box.
Which just goes to show that sometimes mothers are very, very wrong… and their kids are ready to tackle new challenges.